Game 1: New England Nomads v Inverell Saints
This promises to be the game of the season so far, with the rampaging Saints facing off against the team emerging as the most likely to stop them. The fact that this one is on the road at Bellevue Oval only adds to that interest. The Saints are in top form this season, with Mike Gould nearly unstoppable up front and Nick Baird joining the party last week. Their goal scoring is only part of the story but, as any team that racks up the scoring shots like the Saints is working well from half back forward. Jason Gobbert could not be any happier with their form, and at this stage appears to worry more about complacency that anything else. The Nomads on the other hand would be chuffed with their recent efforts, including a strong win over the Kangaroos when last at home. They will be well rested after the forfeit of the Bulldogs last week, and have the sexiest forward line getting about. The Saints backline, not particularly troubled of late, will have to be on their guard in this. The Drum just thinks the Saints pack too many guns at this stage, and line up with too many options not to find the right mix here Tom Granleese will benefit from his first look at the flag favourites, and despite the home ground advantage and The Drum being a closet Nomads fan, they might just be compared to Hay List facing off against that good mare. Everyone seems to try hard, play pretty well but just not get close to the Saints. The students might get closer than most, but the Saints look just too good.
The Drum: Saints by six goals.
Game 2: Muswellbrook Cats v Tamworth Swans
The Drum is not sure what to make of either of these two teams, and putting the ruler through their most recent efforts against the Saints this match would appear likely to be a close one. The Swans might just have caught the Nomads at the right time in round 1, and the way results have run since that might be an important four points later in the year. The Cats face their third home match from four opening games here, and with just one win to date will be eager to get a 2-2 return to start the year, especially if they do fancy themselves as finals contenders. They have a good mix of youngsters coming through, experienced heads, talls and tough nuts learning the game, and will only get better with the more football they are exposed to. Going off their win against the Bulldogs, the only result that makes sense to draw on to judge their form, they will be in the mix here. The Swans travelled a little light on last week, and The Drum has struggled to catch any whispers as to how strong they'll be in their southern trip for this. That will be key for their chances in this. Otherwise these two are tough to match up, but The Drum suspects that the ladder is starting to look like a sedimentary cliff face, splitting into three clear pairs already. With the courage of conviction, we'll run on that theory in a key fixture for both these teams.
The Drum: Swans by four goals.
Game 3: Gunnedah Bulldogs v Tamworth Kangaroos
As if to prove the suggestion that there are just no easy games in the TAFL this year! The Kangaroos will come into this match with a bandaged pride, defending their Premiership with a 1-2 start and two thumpings from last year's closest rivals. In fairness, both those were away from home, but the knock around these blokes is they don't have the depth they've enjoyed in recent years. Hodge has been a notable absentee, and when he returns confidence will be boosted. His presence in support of Maloney, Quinn and Hudson, the youngsters in the middle who have no end of ability, should provide some valuable experience and steel at no loss of quality. Outside of the midfield, the Kangaroos have the cattle to push anyone and should be favoured for the choccies over the Bulldogs. The trouble there is, one just does not know how the hosts here will turn out in terms of players, intent or style. Their second half revival against the Swans a fortnight ago shows they are well capable of making unsuspecting opponents pay if they are not shown the proper respect, and The Drum for this week is they are not hopeless. The issue here may be the desire when the tough times come, and whilst the Bulldogs will be hungry for their first win of the year, The Drum here is that the Kangaroos should, and will, be just a touch better and a shade hungrier.
The Drum: Kangaroos by four goals.
Last Modified on 10/05/2012 16:19